Exercising device



July 17, 1956 s. P. NEMETH 2,754,817

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l i i g July 17, 1956 s. P. NEMETH 2,754,817

' I EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofiice 2,7 54,8 1 7 Patented July 17, 1956 2,754,817 EXERCISING DEVICE Stelfen P. Nemeth, Chicago, 11!.

Application June 10, 1955, Serial No. 514,474 3 Claims. or. 128-60) This invention relates "to improvements in exercising devices and has for an object to provide a device of the torso embracing and engaging type which, when applied and actuated by a user, will furnish a specific movement, and in so doing, effect kneading and manipulation of the body fatty matters, flesh and muscles adjacent and/or in proximity thereto, in such a manner as will stimulate and increase the bodily flow of blood and thereby promote greater and accelerated assimilation of fatty matters, hence, decrease their amount as well as beneficially tone and "condition the exercised portions of the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light, durable, easy to attach and operate exercising device which, when used, will cause neither fatigue nor muscular soreness of 'or to the user, but will be productive of a definite feeling of body exhileration due to its manner of functioning, i. e., effecting beneficial and corrective physical therapy through massage-like activation of the treated portions of a persons body; in consequence, causing stimulation of body blood flow and normal functioning of the affected organs as well as an invigorating muscular activity.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the stated character which will be advantageous and beneficial for use in the reducing and/ or removal of excessive fatty matters from a manipulated portion or portions of a users body, hence, a device advantageous for use in body size and weight reduction.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an exercising device which is capable of being selectively adjusted'with relation to a to-be-treate'd portion of a persons body in such a manner that kneading and/or manipulating action thereofcan be modulated as desired, prescribed, or required. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide an exercising devicecapable of advantageous use in connection with the bodies 'or torsos of persons of different or varying stature, size, shape and girth, and manually operated.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, advantages and meritorious teachings of my invention, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed disclosure thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the form of the invention presented herein is precise and what is now considered to be the best mode of embodying its principles, but that modifications and changes may be made in specific embodiments without departing from its essential features.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective of the invention showing the same engaged with and about the torso of a person and ready for use, the persons torso being partially shown in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the invention with the housing shown in horizontal longitudinal section, the body belt being broken away.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the operating mechanism of the device with other portions thereof shown in elevation and in dotted line operated positions.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section,

'taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction in which the arrows point, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the oscillatory roller mounting bracket and the body shield.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, the invention consists, essentially, of an exercise applicator comprising a pair of substantially complemental and comparatively wide and thick but flexible elongated strips 1 and 2, made of leather or other suitable material, the ends of which are squared, as indicated at 3. The strips are arranged endwise in longitudinally aligned relationship.

Arranged directly below and receiving the adjacent end portions of the strips 1 and 2 on and over their respective outer faces is a shield member 4 of substantially rectangular formation and made of thick but flexible material, such as leather or the like. The width of this shield 4 is greater than the Widths of the complemental strips 1 and 2, as is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Riveted or otherwise fixedly mounted on and attached to the medial transverse portion of the shield 4, as at 5, is a substantially Ushaped supporting bracket 6. The opposite or leg extremities of the bracket are widened or winged, as indicated at 7, and the intermediate portions of each are outwardly embossed or stamped, as at 8, to provide inwardly facing channels and laterally or outwardly disposed bearing surfaces, the purpose of Which will be hereinafter described.

Each of the widened or winged portions 7 of the bracket are provided or formed with bearing openings 9, while the outwardly stamped intermediate portions are formed with screw-threaded openings 10, for a purpose presently described.

Complementally shaped and sized cylinders or rollers 11 are positioned between the opposed wing portions 7 of the bracket extremities, in the manner shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. Said rollers are arranged in parallel and, preferably, spaced relation. They may be formed of metal, wood or other suitable material, such as conditions or preference may dictate. Co-axial bearing pins 12 are fixedly engaged in the opposite ends of each of the rollers 11 and extend for appropriate distances therebeyond, being journaled in the aforedescr'ibed and adjacent bearing openings 9 in the winged portions 7 of the bracket 6. Thus, it will be seen that the rollers 11 will 'be supported for rotary or oscillatory motion on the bracket 6 between the winged portions 7 of its extremities.

In mounting the rollers .11 on the bracket 6, as described above, it is preferable that washers 13 or similar wear compensating and spacing devices be engaged on the bear ing pins 12 between the adjacent ends of the rollers and the winged bracket portions 7.

The inner and therefore adjacent ends of the strips 1 and 2 are secured to corresponding peripheral portions of the rollers 11 by engaging screws 14 or other fastening devices therethrough and in and with said rollers, in the manner clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. Thus, it will be seen that said strips are individually endwise connected to the individual rollers 11.

In order that rotary or oscillatory motion may be transmitted to the roller 11, each thereof is formed with a substantially medially located and radially disposed opening or pocket lined with a suitable bushing or like wear compensating device 15. Rods 16, of corresponding lengths, are snugly, and hence, frictionally engaged with these openings and each of said rods is provided with a handle 17 for facilitating engagement therewith. The

location of the openings and bushings 15 in the rollers 11 correspond and are such that said rods extend outwardly or radially therefrom in the manner shown in Figure 3. Of course, the lengths of such rods may be varied, as desired or required.

A protective housing of box-like formation, designated by the numeral 18, is engaged over the bracket 6 and the rollers 11. The opposite sides of said housing have bearing contact or engagement with the outwardly disposed medial portions of the extremities of the bracket 6, hereinbefore described. Hence, it will be seen that the adjacent ends of the housing will be spaced outwardly from the roller bearing pins 12 and their respective rollers 11; and in consequence, that free rotation of such pins and rollers will not be impeded thereby. Longitudinally disposed slots or ways, each identified by the numeral 19, are formed in the medial portions of the opposite sides and the top of said housing 18 and receive the rods 16 therethrough. Thus, rocking of the rods 16 in order to transmit ocsillatory or rotary motion to their respective rollers 11, will be permitted.

To secure the housing 18 against displacement from or with respect to the bracket 6 and the housing 18, set screws 20 or the like, are engaged through appropriately formed or located openings in the opposite ends of said housings and in and through the screw-threaded openings in the lateral extremities of the bracket 6.

A body embracing or encompassing belt, made of suitable and flexible material, indicated at 21, is fixedly connected, as at 22, to the strip 1, while its opposite end portion is provided with the usual longitudinally disposed and relatively spaced buckle tongue receiving openings 23. A buckle of suitable type, such as designated by the numeral 24, is connected, at 25, to the outer side and end of the remaining strip 2, and as will be understood, is adapted to adjustably receive the belt free end therethrough and to secure said belt in suitably adjusted embracing or encompassing engagement about a persons torso, indicated at 26.

To support the device in position whereby to facilitate its proper placement upon a persons torso, I may and preferably do medially connect a belt 27, as at 28, to the normally upper end wall of the housing 18. Thus, this belt may be loop-like engaged over or about the neck of a person using the device. When so engaged, said device will be supported during that time when the belt 21 is engaged about and adjusted with relation to the persons torso 26.

In usage of the invention and assuming that the same has been placed and secured in proper relative position to the to-be-treated portion of the torso 26, the rods 16, with their handles 17, are disposed outwardly in the manner shown in Figure 1. Thus, positioned and attached, the user individually engages rod handles 17, swinging the same apart or outwardly to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. By so doing, rotary motion in corresponding directions is imparted to the rollers 11 having connection with the adjacent inner ends of the wide strips 1 and 2. In consequence, the strips 1 and 2, also connected to the band 21, are drawn inwardly and over the shield 4 adjacent and contacting the torso. In so doing, the immediately adjacent portion of torso 26 is compressed or squeezed with the result that an induced flexing and/or exercising action is effected. The torso being thus compressed will cause the rollers 11 and their respective rods 16 to be returned to their initial or starting positions when outward pressure thereon is dis-' continued. Thus, oscillatory motion of the rollers 11 is caused.

The above operation is completed by the user as many times as may be desired or required and thereby, repeated or recurring compression and expansion of thetorso will be caused, giving advantageous and beneficial results, such as are hereinabove described.

When a period of exercise with or by the device has been ended, said device may, obviously be removed by reversing the previously described attaching operation.

I claim:

1. In an exercising device, a support, relatively parallel rollers rotatably carried by said support, a shield of width and length greater than the support connected to its lower and underside, strips of flexible material of widths substantially corresponding to the lengths of the rollers peripherally and endwise connected thereto, means engaging said rollers for facilitating the imparting of rotary motion thereto and a body encircling band connected to the outer and free ends of said strips.

2. In an exercising device, a support, relatively spaced and parallel rollers rotatably carried by the support,

a shield connected to the support underlying said rollers,

strips of flexible material arranged in opposed endwise relation and engaged over portions of said shield, said strips being of widths substantially corresponding to the lengths of the rollers and having their inner ends connected to the peripheries thereof, a housing engaged over the rollers and the support and connected to the latter, said housing having relatively spaced ways formed in portions thereof, rods having fixed connection with the rollers and extended radially outwardly therefrom through the ways in the housing, and an adjustable body encircling band connected at its opposite ends to the outer and free ends of said strips.

3. In an exercising device, a support, relatively parallel rollers rotatably carried by said support, a shield of length and width greater than the support connected to its lower and underside, means engaging said rollers for facilitating the imparting of rotary motion thereto, and a body encircling band connected at its opposite ends to the rollers.

1,403,042 Leanard Jan. 10, 1922 

